Thursday, August 29, 2013

Colorado Springs-based SunShare LLC has signed a contract with
Minneapolis-based utility giant Xcel Energy Inc. to build five solar
gardens in the Denver area later this year, marking the company's first
expansion outside of El Paso County.

The company also was named a finalist Monday to build five solar
gardens in Sacramento, Calif., pending completion of a "due diligence"
and negotiation process with the city's Municipal Utility District by
late next month, said David Amster-Olszewski, SunShare's founder and
president.

SunShare also plans to bid on a series of solar garden projects
during the next three months in Colorado Springs, elsewhere in Colorado
and in California that would produce 20 megawatts of power, or enough to
serve about 4,000 homes.

Carbondale, Colorado-based Clean Energy Collective recently announced
the launch of a new program that will give low-income residents in
Denver, Colorado access to locally produced clean energy. Following a
new partnership agreement between solar garden developer Clean Energy
Collective (CEC) and the Housing Authority of the City and County of
Denver (DHA), the new Community Solar Low-Income Residential Program
will see CEC devoting a part of the power produced by three community
solar facilities serving Xcel Energy’s Denver County customers offset
the electrical bills for around 35 families living in the DHA
facilities.
“We’re very proud of this new partnership with DHA and the
opportunity to provide clean, locally made energy to several Denver
families, many of whom may be facing greater challenges than reducing
their carbon footprint,” said Tom Sweeney, CEC’s chief operating
officer.

Denver, Colo.
(August 8, 2013) Low-income residents in Denver, Colo. will soon
receive clean, locally-produced energy thanks to a new partnership
between solar garden developer Clean Energy Collective (CEC) and the Denver Housing Authority
(DHA). Under the new Community Solar Low-Income Residential Program,
CEC will devote a portion of the power produced by three community solar
facilities serving Xcel Energy's Denver County customers, offsetting
the electric bills for approximately 35 families living in DHA
facilities.

Five percent of the power produced by each of the
three community solar arrays CEC has in the queue for development in
Denver County is earmarked for the DHA program, equating to 70kW, or
about 100 panels from each array. According to CEC, this will generate
more than $7,700 in bill credits for DHA housing residents in the first
year and nearly $230,000 over the 20-year program.

Historically,
renewable energy has been out of reach for the majority of people
because of significant obstacles, including a large upfront cost, shaded
or unaccommodating roofs, or they rent their properties. Clean Energy
Collective's community solar model removes those barriers by delivering
clean power through medium-scale, locally-sited solar facilities
collectively owned by participating utility customers, and providing
credit for the power produced directly on panel owners' utility bills.

"We're
very proud of this new partnership with DHA and the opportunity to
provide clean, locally-made energy to several Denver families, many of
whom may be facing greater challenges than reducing their carbon
footprint," said Tom Sweeney, CEC's chief operating officer.

Housing
Authority owns and/or manages affordable housing units in the City and
County of Denver, serving the residents of Denver.

"This is a
great partnership with CEC, it demonstrates a creative way to bring
environmentally friendly, low cost renewable energy to serve low-income
residents," said Ismael Guerrero, DHA Executive Director. "DHA benefits
because we don't disrupt our buildings or daily operations and residents
will receive a direct credit on their monthly bill, thus saving money
every month.

" CEC is building 11 community solar arrays as part
of Xcel Energy's Solar*Rewards Community program to serve Colorado
customers in Denver, Boulder, Jefferson, Arapahoe and Summit counties,
and the City of Aurora. Boulder's first array is currently online and
supplying power, while Denver's Denver/Lowry Solar Array (Hanger 2) is
anticipated to come online this September.
About Clean Energy Collective (CEC) Colorado-based Clean Energy
Collective is a developer of community-based renewable energy facilities
and a national leader in community power generation. CEC pioneered the
model of delivering clean power-generation through large-scale
facilities that are collectively owned by participating utility
customers. The CEC's proprietary RemoteMeter® system automatically
calculates monthly credits and integrates with existing utility billing
systems, enabling all utility customers to easily have clean, renewable
power credited directly on their monthly utility bills, without
modifying their home or office. - See more at:
http://www.easycleanenergy.com/Shownews.aspx?ID=8011323b-b191-4149-92ec-6135347df093#sthash.mXVH8Mj9.dpuf

Denver, Colo.
(August 8, 2013) Low-income residents in Denver, Colo. will soon
receive clean, locally-produced energy thanks to a new partnership
between solar garden developer Clean Energy Collective (CEC) and the Denver Housing Authority
(DHA). Under the new Community Solar Low-Income Residential Program,
CEC will devote a portion of the power produced by three community solar
facilities serving Xcel Energy's Denver County customers, offsetting
the electric bills for approximately 35 families living in DHA
facilities.

Five percent of the power produced by each of the
three community solar arrays CEC has in the queue for development in
Denver County is earmarked for the DHA program, equating to 70kW, or
about 100 panels from each array. According to CEC, this will generate
more than $7,700 in bill credits for DHA housing residents in the first
year and nearly $230,000 over the 20-year program.

Historically,
renewable energy has been out of reach for the majority of people
because of significant obstacles, including a large upfront cost, shaded
or unaccommodating roofs, or they rent their properties. Clean Energy
Collective's community solar model removes those barriers by delivering
clean power through medium-scale, locally-sited solar facilities
collectively owned by participating utility customers, and providing
credit for the power produced directly on panel owners' utility bills.

"We're
very proud of this new partnership with DHA and the opportunity to
provide clean, locally-made energy to several Denver families, many of
whom may be facing greater challenges than reducing their carbon
footprint," said Tom Sweeney, CEC's chief operating officer.

Housing
Authority owns and/or manages affordable housing units in the City and
County of Denver, serving the residents of Denver.

"This is a
great partnership with CEC, it demonstrates a creative way to bring
environmentally friendly, low cost renewable energy to serve low-income
residents," said Ismael Guerrero, DHA Executive Director. "DHA benefits
because we don't disrupt our buildings or daily operations and residents
will receive a direct credit on their monthly bill, thus saving money
every month.

" CEC is building 11 community solar arrays as part
of Xcel Energy's Solar*Rewards Community program to serve Colorado
customers in Denver, Boulder, Jefferson, Arapahoe and Summit counties,
and the City of Aurora. Boulder's first array is currently online and
supplying power, while Denver's Denver/Lowry Solar Array (Hanger 2) is
anticipated to come online this September.
About Clean Energy Collective (CEC) Colorado-based Clean Energy
Collective is a developer of community-based renewable energy facilities
and a national leader in community power generation. CEC pioneered the
model of delivering clean power-generation through large-scale
facilities that are collectively owned by participating utility
customers. The CEC's proprietary RemoteMeter® system automatically
calculates monthly credits and integrates with existing utility billing
systems, enabling all utility customers to easily have clean, renewable
power credited directly on their monthly utility bills, without
modifying their home or office. - See more at:
http://www.easycleanenergy.com/Shownews.aspx?ID=8011323b-b191-4149-92ec-6135347df093#sthash.mXVH8Mj9.dpuf

Denver, Colo.
(August 8, 2013) Low-income residents in Denver, Colo. will soon
receive clean, locally-produced energy thanks to a new partnership
between solar garden developer Clean Energy Collective (CEC) and the Denver Housing Authority
(DHA). Under the new Community Solar Low-Income Residential Program,
CEC will devote a portion of the power produced by three community solar
facilities serving Xcel Energy's Denver County customers, offsetting
the electric bills for approximately 35 families living in DHA
facilities.

Five percent of the power produced by each of the
three community solar arrays CEC has in the queue for development in
Denver County is earmarked for the DHA program, equating to 70kW, or
about 100 panels from each array. According to CEC, this will generate
more than $7,700 in bill credits for DHA housing residents in the first
year and nearly $230,000 over the 20-year program.

Historically,
renewable energy has been out of reach for the majority of people
because of significant obstacles, including a large upfront cost, shaded
or unaccommodating roofs, or they rent their properties. Clean Energy
Collective's community solar model removes those barriers by delivering
clean power through medium-scale, locally-sited solar facilities
collectively owned by participating utility customers, and providing
credit for the power produced directly on panel owners' utility bills.

"We're
very proud of this new partnership with DHA and the opportunity to
provide clean, locally-made energy to several Denver families, many of
whom may be facing greater challenges than reducing their carbon
footprint," said Tom Sweeney, CEC's chief operating officer.

Housing
Authority owns and/or manages affordable housing units in the City and
County of Denver, serving the residents of Denver.

"This is a
great partnership with CEC, it demonstrates a creative way to bring
environmentally friendly, low cost renewable energy to serve low-income
residents," said Ismael Guerrero, DHA Executive Director. "DHA benefits
because we don't disrupt our buildings or daily operations and residents
will receive a direct credit on their monthly bill, thus saving money
every month.

" CEC is building 11 community solar arrays as part
of Xcel Energy's Solar*Rewards Community program to serve Colorado
customers in Denver, Boulder, Jefferson, Arapahoe and Summit counties,
and the City of Aurora. Boulder's first array is currently online and
supplying power, while Denver's Denver/Lowry Solar Array (Hanger 2) is
anticipated to come online this September.
About Clean Energy Collective (CEC) Colorado-based Clean Energy
Collective is a developer of community-based renewable energy facilities
and a national leader in community power generation. CEC pioneered the
model of delivering clean power-generation through large-scale
facilities that are collectively owned by participating utility
customers. The CEC's proprietary RemoteMeter® system automatically
calculates monthly credits and integrates with existing utility billing
systems, enabling all utility customers to easily have clean, renewable
power credited directly on their monthly utility bills, without
modifying their home or office. - See more at:
http://www.easycleanenergy.com/Shownews.aspx?ID=8011323b-b191-4149-92ec-6135347df093#sthash.mXVH8Mj9.dpuf

Denver, Colo.
(August 8, 2013) Low-income residents in Denver, Colo. will soon
receive clean, locally-produced energy thanks to a new partnership
between solar garden developer Clean Energy Collective (CEC) and the Denver Housing Authority
(DHA). Under the new Community Solar Low-Income Residential Program,
CEC will devote a portion of the power produced by three community solar
facilities serving Xcel Energy's Denver County customers, offsetting
the electric bills for approximately 35 families living in DHA
facilities.

Five percent of the power produced by each of the
three community solar arrays CEC has in the queue for development in
Denver County is earmarked for the DHA program, equating to 70kW, or
about 100 panels from each array. According to CEC, this will generate
more than $7,700 in bill credits for DHA housing residents in the first
year and nearly $230,000 over the 20-year program.

Historically,
renewable energy has been out of reach for the majority of people
because of significant obstacles, including a large upfront cost, shaded
or unaccommodating roofs, or they rent their properties. Clean Energy
Collective's community solar model removes those barriers by delivering
clean power through medium-scale, locally-sited solar facilities
collectively owned by participating utility customers, and providing
credit for the power produced directly on panel owners' utility bills.

"We're
very proud of this new partnership with DHA and the opportunity to
provide clean, locally-made energy to several Denver families, many of
whom may be facing greater challenges than reducing their carbon
footprint," said Tom Sweeney, CEC's chief operating officer.

Housing
Authority owns and/or manages affordable housing units in the City and
County of Denver, serving the residents of Denver.

"This is a
great partnership with CEC, it demonstrates a creative way to bring
environmentally friendly, low cost renewable energy to serve low-income
residents," said Ismael Guerrero, DHA Executive Director. "DHA benefits
because we don't disrupt our buildings or daily operations and residents
will receive a direct credit on their monthly bill, thus saving money
every month.

" CEC is building 11 community solar arrays as part
of Xcel Energy's Solar*Rewards Community program to serve Colorado
customers in Denver, Boulder, Jefferson, Arapahoe and Summit counties,
and the City of Aurora. Boulder's first array is currently online and
supplying power, while Denver's Denver/Lowry Solar Array (Hanger 2) is
anticipated to come online this September.
About Clean Energy Collective (CEC) Colorado-based Clean Energy
Collective is a developer of community-based renewable energy facilities
and a national leader in community power generation. CEC pioneered the
model of delivering clean power-generation through large-scale
facilities that are collectively owned by participating utility
customers. The CEC's proprietary RemoteMeter® system automatically
calculates monthly credits and integrates with existing utility billing
systems, enabling all utility customers to easily have clean, renewable
power credited directly on their monthly utility bills, without
modifying their home or office. - See more at:
http://www.easycleanenergy.com/Shownews.aspx?ID=8011323b-b191-4149-92ec-6135347df093#sthash.mXVH8Mj9.dpuf

Denver, Colo.
(August 8, 2013) Low-income residents in Denver, Colo. will soon
receive clean, locally-produced energy thanks to a new partnership
between solar garden developer Clean Energy Collective (CEC) and the Denver Housing Authority
(DHA). Under the new Community Solar Low-Income Residential Program,
CEC will devote a portion of the power produced by three community solar
facilities serving Xcel Energy's Denver County customers, offsetting
the electric bills for approximately 35 families living in DHA
facilities.

Five percent of the power produced by each of the
three community solar arrays CEC has in the queue for development in
Denver County is earmarked for the DHA program, equating to 70kW, or
about 100 panels from each array. According to CEC, this will generate
more than $7,700 in bill credits for DHA housing residents in the first
year and nearly $230,000 over the 20-year program.

Historically,
renewable energy has been out of reach for the majority of people
because of significant obstacles, including a large upfront cost, shaded
or unaccommodating roofs, or they rent their properties. Clean Energy
Collective's community solar model removes those barriers by delivering
clean power through medium-scale, locally-sited solar facilities
collectively owned by participating utility customers, and providing
credit for the power produced directly on panel owners' utility bills.

"We're
very proud of this new partnership with DHA and the opportunity to
provide clean, locally-made energy to several Denver families, many of
whom may be facing greater challenges than reducing their carbon
footprint," said Tom Sweeney, CEC's chief operating officer.

Housing
Authority owns and/or manages affordable housing units in the City and
County of Denver, serving the residents of Denver.

"This is a
great partnership with CEC, it demonstrates a creative way to bring
environmentally friendly, low cost renewable energy to serve low-income
residents," said Ismael Guerrero, DHA Executive Director. "DHA benefits
because we don't disrupt our buildings or daily operations and residents
will receive a direct credit on their monthly bill, thus saving money
every month.

" CEC is building 11 community solar arrays as part
of Xcel Energy's Solar*Rewards Community program to serve Colorado
customers in Denver, Boulder, Jefferson, Arapahoe and Summit counties,
and the City of Aurora. Boulder's first array is currently online and
supplying power, while Denver's Denver/Lowry Solar Array (Hanger 2) is
anticipated to come online this September.
About Clean Energy Collective (CEC) Colorado-based Clean Energy
Collective is a developer of community-based renewable energy facilities
and a national leader in community power generation. CEC pioneered the
model of delivering clean power-generation through large-scale
facilities that are collectively owned by participating utility
customers. The CEC's proprietary RemoteMeter® system automatically
calculates monthly credits and integrates with existing utility billing
systems, enabling all utility customers to easily have clean, renewable
power credited directly on their monthly utility bills, without
modifying their home or office. - See more at:
http://www.easycleanenergy.com/Shownews.aspx?ID=8011323b-b191-4149-92ec-6135347df093#sthash.mXVH8Mj9.dpuf

Denver, Colo.
(August 8, 2013) Low-income residents in Denver, Colo. will soon
receive clean, locally-produced energy thanks to a new partnership
between solar garden developer Clean Energy Collective (CEC) and the Denver Housing Authority
(DHA). Under the new Community Solar Low-Income Residential Program,
CEC will devote a portion of the power produced by three community solar
facilities serving Xcel Energy's Denver County customers, offsetting
the electric bills for approximately 35 families living in DHA
facilities.

Five percent of the power produced by each of the
three community solar arrays CEC has in the queue for development in
Denver County is earmarked for the DHA program, equating to 70kW, or
about 100 panels from each array. According to CEC, this will generate
more than $7,700 in bill credits for DHA housing residents in the first
year and nearly $230,000 over the 20-year program.

Historically,
renewable energy has been out of reach for the majority of people
because of significant obstacles, including a large upfront cost, shaded
or unaccommodating roofs, or they rent their properties. Clean Energy
Collective's community solar model removes those barriers by delivering
clean power through medium-scale, locally-sited solar facilities
collectively owned by participating utility customers, and providing
credit for the power produced directly on panel owners' utility bills.

"We're
very proud of this new partnership with DHA and the opportunity to
provide clean, locally-made energy to several Denver families, many of
whom may be facing greater challenges than reducing their carbon
footprint," said Tom Sweeney, CEC's chief operating officer.

Housing
Authority owns and/or manages affordable housing units in the City and
County of Denver, serving the residents of Denver.

"This is a
great partnership with CEC, it demonstrates a creative way to bring
environmentally friendly, low cost renewable energy to serve low-income
residents," said Ismael Guerrero, DHA Executive Director. "DHA benefits
because we don't disrupt our buildings or daily operations and residents
will receive a direct credit on their monthly bill, thus saving money
every month.

" CEC is building 11 community solar arrays as part
of Xcel Energy's Solar*Rewards Community program to serve Colorado
customers in Denver, Boulder, Jefferson, Arapahoe and Summit counties,
and the City of Aurora. Boulder's first array is currently online and
supplying power, while Denver's Denver/Lowry Solar Array (Hanger 2) is
anticipated to come online this September.
About Clean Energy Collective (CEC) Colorado-based Clean Energy
Collective is a developer of community-based renewable energy facilities
and a national leader in community power generation. CEC pioneered the
model of delivering clean power-generation through large-scale
facilities that are collectively owned by participating utility
customers. The CEC's proprietary RemoteMeter® system automatically
calculates monthly credits and integrates with existing utility billing
systems, enabling all utility customers to easily have clean, renewable
power credited directly on their monthly utility bills, without
modifying their home or office. - See more at:
http://www.easycleanenergy.com/Shownews.aspx?ID=8011323b-b191-4149-92ec-6135347df093#sthash.mXVH8Mj9.dpuf

Denver, Colo.
(August 8, 2013) Low-income residents in Denver, Colo. will soon
receive clean, locally-produced energy thanks to a new partnership
between solar garden developer Clean Energy Collective (CEC) and the Denver Housing Authority
(DHA). Under the new Community Solar Low-Income Residential Program,
CEC will devote a portion of the power produced by three community solar
facilities serving Xcel Energy's Denver County customers, offsetting
the electric bills for approximately 35 families living in DHA
facilities.

Five percent of the power produced by each of the
three community solar arrays CEC has in the queue for development in
Denver County is earmarked for the DHA program, equating to 70kW, or
about 100 panels from each array. According to CEC, this will generate
more than $7,700 in bill credits for DHA housing residents in the first
year and nearly $230,000 over the 20-year program.

Historically,
renewable energy has been out of reach for the majority of people
because of significant obstacles, including a large upfront cost, shaded
or unaccommodating roofs, or they rent their properties. Clean Energy
Collective's community solar model removes those barriers by delivering
clean power through medium-scale, locally-sited solar facilities
collectively owned by participating utility customers, and providing
credit for the power produced directly on panel owners' utility bills.

"We're
very proud of this new partnership with DHA and the opportunity to
provide clean, locally-made energy to several Denver families, many of
whom may be facing greater challenges than reducing their carbon
footprint," said Tom Sweeney, CEC's chief operating officer.

Housing
Authority owns and/or manages affordable housing units in the City and
County of Denver, serving the residents of Denver.

"This is a
great partnership with CEC, it demonstrates a creative way to bring
environmentally friendly, low cost renewable energy to serve low-income
residents," said Ismael Guerrero, DHA Executive Director. "DHA benefits
because we don't disrupt our buildings or daily operations and residents
will receive a direct credit on their monthly bill, thus saving money
every month.

" CEC is building 11 community solar arrays as part
of Xcel Energy's Solar*Rewards Community program to serve Colorado
customers in Denver, Boulder, Jefferson, Arapahoe and Summit counties,
and the City of Aurora. Boulder's first array is currently online and
supplying power, while Denver's Denver/Lowry Solar Array (Hanger 2) is
anticipated to come online this September.
About Clean Energy Collective (CEC) Colorado-based Clean Energy
Collective is a developer of community-based renewable energy facilities
and a national leader in community power generation. CEC pioneered the
model of delivering clean power-generation through large-scale
facilities that are collectively owned by participating utility
customers. The CEC's proprietary RemoteMeter® system automatically
calculates monthly credits and integrates with existing utility billing
systems, enabling all utility customers to easily have clean, renewable
power credited directly on their monthly utility bills, without
modifying their home or office. - See more at:
http://www.easycleanenergy.com/Shownews.aspx?ID=8011323b-b191-4149-92ec-6135347df093#sthash.mXVH8Mj9.dpuf

Denver, Colo.
(August 8, 2013) Low-income residents in Denver, Colo. will soon
receive clean, locally-produced energy thanks to a new partnership
between solar garden developer Clean Energy Collective (CEC) and the Denver Housing Authority
(DHA). Under the new Community Solar Low-Income Residential Program,
CEC will devote a portion of the power produced by three community solar
facilities serving Xcel Energy's Denver County customers, offsetting
the electric bills for approximately 35 families living in DHA
facilities.

Five percent of the power produced by each of the
three community solar arrays CEC has in the queue for development in
Denver County is earmarked for the DHA program, equating to 70kW, or
about 100 panels from each array. According to CEC, this will generate
more than $7,700 in bill credits for DHA housing residents in the first
year and nearly $230,000 over the 20-year program.

Historically,
renewable energy has been out of reach for the majority of people
because of significant obstacles, including a large upfront cost, shaded
or unaccommodating roofs, or they rent their properties. Clean Energy
Collective's community solar model removes those barriers by delivering
clean power through medium-scale, locally-sited solar facilities
collectively owned by participating utility customers, and providing
credit for the power produced directly on panel owners' utility bills.

"We're
very proud of this new partnership with DHA and the opportunity to
provide clean, locally-made energy to several Denver families, many of
whom may be facing greater challenges than reducing their carbon
footprint," said Tom Sweeney, CEC's chief operating officer.

Housing
Authority owns and/or manages affordable housing units in the City and
County of Denver, serving the residents of Denver.

"This is a
great partnership with CEC, it demonstrates a creative way to bring
environmentally friendly, low cost renewable energy to serve low-income
residents," said Ismael Guerrero, DHA Executive Director. "DHA benefits
because we don't disrupt our buildings or daily operations and residents
will receive a direct credit on their monthly bill, thus saving money
every month.

" CEC is building 11 community solar arrays as part
of Xcel Energy's Solar*Rewards Community program to serve Colorado
customers in Denver, Boulder, Jefferson, Arapahoe and Summit counties,
and the City of Aurora. Boulder's first array is currently online and
supplying power, while Denver's Denver/Lowry Solar Array (Hanger 2) is
anticipated to come online this September.
About Clean Energy Collective (CEC) Colorado-based Clean Energy
Collective is a developer of community-based renewable energy facilities
and a national leader in community power generation. CEC pioneered the
model of delivering clean power-generation through large-scale
facilities that are collectively owned by participating utility
customers. The CEC's proprietary RemoteMeter® system automatically
calculates monthly credits and integrates with existing utility billing
systems, enabling all utility customers to easily have clean, renewable
power credited directly on their monthly utility bills, without
modifying their home or office. - See more at:
http://www.easycleanenergy.com/Shownews.aspx?ID=8011323b-b191-4149-92ec-6135347df093#sthash.mXVH8Mj9.dpuf

Denver, Colo.
(August 8, 2013) Low-income residents in Denver, Colo. will soon
receive clean, locally-produced energy thanks to a new partnership
between solar garden developer Clean Energy Collective (CEC) and the Denver Housing Authority
(DHA). Under the new Community Solar Low-Income Residential Program,
CEC will devote a portion of the power produced by three community solar
facilities serving Xcel Energy's Denver County customers, offsetting
the electric bills for approximately 35 families living in DHA
facilities.

Five percent of the power produced by each of the
three community solar arrays CEC has in the queue for development in
Denver County is earmarked for the DHA program, equating to 70kW, or
about 100 panels from each array. According to CEC, this will generate
more than $7,700 in bill credits for DHA housing residents in the first
year and nearly $230,000 over the 20-year program.

Historically,
renewable energy has been out of reach for the majority of people
because of significant obstacles, including a large upfront cost, shaded
or unaccommodating roofs, or they rent their properties. Clean Energy
Collective's community solar model removes those barriers by delivering
clean power through medium-scale, locally-sited solar facilities
collectively owned by participating utility customers, and providing
credit for the power produced directly on panel owners' utility bills.

"We're
very proud of this new partnership with DHA and the opportunity to
provide clean, locally-made energy to several Denver families, many of
whom may be facing greater challenges than reducing their carbon
footprint," said Tom Sweeney, CEC's chief operating officer.

Housing
Authority owns and/or manages affordable housing units in the City and
County of Denver, serving the residents of Denver.

"This is a
great partnership with CEC, it demonstrates a creative way to bring
environmentally friendly, low cost renewable energy to serve low-income
residents," said Ismael Guerrero, DHA Executive Director. "DHA benefits
because we don't disrupt our buildings or daily operations and residents
will receive a direct credit on their monthly bill, thus saving money
every month.

" CEC is building 11 community solar arrays as part
of Xcel Energy's Solar*Rewards Community program to serve Colorado
customers in Denver, Boulder, Jefferson, Arapahoe and Summit counties,
and the City of Aurora. Boulder's first array is currently online and
supplying power, while Denver's Denver/Lowry Solar Array (Hanger 2) is
anticipated to come online this September.
About Clean Energy Collective (CEC) Colorado-based Clean Energy
Collective is a developer of community-based renewable energy facilities
and a national leader in community power generation. CEC pioneered the
model of delivering clean power-generation through large-scale
facilities that are collectively owned by participating utility
customers. The CEC's proprietary RemoteMeter® system automatically
calculates monthly credits and integrates with existing utility billing
systems, enabling all utility customers to easily have clean, renewable
power credited directly on their monthly utility bills, without
modifying their home or office. - See more at:
http://www.easycleanenergy.com/Shownews.aspx?ID=8011323b-b191-4149-92ec-6135347df093#sthash.mXVH8Mj9.dpuf

Denver, Colo.
(August 8, 2013) Low-income residents in Denver, Colo. will soon
receive clean, locally-produced energy thanks to a new partnership
between solar garden developer Clean Energy Collective (CEC) and the Denver Housing Authority
(DHA). Under the new Community Solar Low-Income Residential Program,
CEC will devote a portion of the power produced by three community solar
facilities serving Xcel Energy's Denver County customers, offsetting
the electric bills for approximately 35 families living in DHA
facilities.

Five percent of the power produced by each of the
three community solar arrays CEC has in the queue for development in
Denver County is earmarked for the DHA program, equating to 70kW, or
about 100 panels from each array. According to CEC, this will generate
more than $7,700 in bill credits for DHA housing residents in the first
year and nearly $230,000 over the 20-year program.

Historically,
renewable energy has been out of reach for the majority of people
because of significant obstacles, including a large upfront cost, shaded
or unaccommodating roofs, or they rent their properties. Clean Energy
Collective's community solar model removes those barriers by delivering
clean power through medium-scale, locally-sited solar facilities
collectively owned by participating utility customers, and providing
credit for the power produced directly on panel owners' utility bills.

"We're
very proud of this new partnership with DHA and the opportunity to
provide clean, locally-made energy to several Denver families, many of
whom may be facing greater challenges than reducing their carbon
footprint," said Tom Sweeney, CEC's chief operating officer.

Housing
Authority owns and/or manages affordable housing units in the City and
County of Denver, serving the residents of Denver.

"This is a
great partnership with CEC, it demonstrates a creative way to bring
environmentally friendly, low cost renewable energy to serve low-income
residents," said Ismael Guerrero, DHA Executive Director. "DHA benefits
because we don't disrupt our buildings or daily operations and residents
will receive a direct credit on their monthly bill, thus saving money
every month.

" CEC is building 11 community solar arrays as part
of Xcel Energy's Solar*Rewards Community program to serve Colorado
customers in Denver, Boulder, Jefferson, Arapahoe and Summit counties,
and the City of Aurora. Boulder's first array is currently online and
supplying power, while Denver's Denver/Lowry Solar Array (Hanger 2) is
anticipated to come online this September.
About Clean Energy Collective (CEC) Colorado-based Clean Energy
Collective is a developer of community-based renewable energy facilities
and a national leader in community power generation. CEC pioneered the
model of delivering clean power-generation through large-scale
facilities that are collectively owned by participating utility
customers. The CEC's proprietary RemoteMeter® system automatically
calculates monthly credits and integrates with existing utility billing
systems, enabling all utility customers to easily have clean, renewable
power credited directly on their monthly utility bills, without
modifying their home or office. - See more at:
http://www.easycleanenergy.com/Shownews.aspx?ID=8011323b-b191-4149-92ec-6135347df093#sthash.mXVH8Mj9.dpuf

One option is to expand the use of Community Solar Garden (CSG)
programs. CSGs are communally-owned solar installations that sell power
to local utilities, providing credits to their investors’ residential
electricity bills. CSGs can deliver cheaper energy through economies of
scale and do not require rooftop installation, making them a valuable
option for renters.

"...the coming tussle between solar and conventional energy is not going to be a fair fight.”
- Sanford C. Bernstein

There are 3,200 utilities that make up the U.S. electrical
grid, the largest machine in the world. These power companies sell $400
billion worth of electricity a year, mostly derived from burning fossil
fuels in centralized stations and distributed over 2.7 million miles of
power lines. Regulators set rates; utilities get guaranteed returns;
investors get sure-thing dividends. It’s a model that hasn’t changed
much since Thomas Edison invented the light bulb. And it’s doomed to
obsolescence.

That’s the opinion of David Crane, chief executive
officer of NRG Energy, a wholesale power company based in Princeton,
N.J. What’s afoot is a confluence of green energy and computer
technology, deregulation, cheap natural gas, and political pressure
that, as Crane starkly frames it, poses “a mortal threat to the existing
utility system.” He says that in about the time it has taken cell
phones to supplant land lines in most U.S. homes, the grid will become
increasingly irrelevant as customers move toward decentralized homegrown
green energy. Rooftop solar, in particular, is turning tens of
thousands of businesses and households into power producers. Such
distributed generation, to use the industry’s term for power produced
outside the grid, is certain to grow.

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that the price of solar has been dropping. A new Tracking the Sun report from the Department of Energy Lawrence Berkeley National Labs (LBNL) confirms the trend: solar keeps getting cheaper.

According to the report, median installed prices fell by an average of $0.5/W (6-7%) annually between 1998 and 2012. That rate has accelerated recently, as seen in the drop of $0.3-0.9/W (6-14%) from just 2011 to 2012. Price drops like these have facilitated a more than fourfold increase in U.S solar installations between 2009 and 2012.

Saturday, August 24, 2013

Vermont was the first state to allow group net metering when it passed legislation in 2003 and today about 12 states allow groups to come together to invest in solar power and receive credits after the energy is delivered into the power grid.

Rep. Tony Klein, D-Montpelier, chairman of the Natural Resources and Energy Committee, said even though group net metering has been allowed in the state for 10 years, enthusiasm is only just starting to build.

The prices of solar cells are falling rapidly, and will keep doing so for the next few years. The big questions revolve around the rate of the price declines. And the panels themselves aren't the only place where cost reductions will be found. America has very high "soft costs"—installation, permitting, marketing etc. Whittling down these expenses will help, too.

I recently participated in one of the Twitter #SolarChat events that @EcoOutfitters organizes. It was a real blast — fun and informative. The general focus was community solar gardens, but that was of course linked to many other solar issues. Numerous useful resources about community solar gardens and solar financing were shared. Below are some of the key comments and resources I gathered from the hour-long solar chat (I actually spent about 2 hours scrolling through all the tweets and replying where I could be of special use.)

COMMUNITY SOLAR

To start with, several people intimately involved with the community solar model shared some useful resources:

Friday, August 9, 2013

The future looks bright for solar in the U.S. That’s according to a recent UC Berkeley study that claims that by 2050, solar power could supply a third of all electricity demand in the country’s western states.

Top solar states

The Berkeley researchers are not alone in identifying the huge potential of solar energy. A report from the nonprofit advocacy group Environment America looks to what our top 12 solar states are doing as a model for what could happen in the rest of the U.S. As Rob Sargent, the group’s energy program director, points out, the success of solar in these states “should give us the confidence that we can do much more.”